18 August 2011

Terrorist attacks north of Eilat

So far (14:00) the reporting isn't precise and there are still firefights close to the Egyptian border. What is known:

  • A bus on the route to Eilat came under small caliber fire from 3 terrorists. As a result, there are 5 or 6 lightly wounded.
  • An anti-tank missile was launched at another bus passing in the area, there are several passengers killed and several wounded.
  • A car (whether private or military) activated an explosive device. Several wounded and killed.
  • The initial confused reporting about Egyptian army shooting at the bus - mistake.
At the moment it is known about three terrorists killed in the firefight. IDF continues clean-up of the area.

Update 14:30: 5 dead in the car that was hit by the explosive device.

Update 15:20: The total number of wounded as reported now: 29. The firefights, apparently, are over, however IDF and police units are still in pursuit.

Update 15:45: The known number of terrorists killed: seven.

Update 16:00: Six Israelis dead - so far. On the bus that came under small caliber fire there were 9 wounded and not "five or six" as reported earlier, one of them critically. Egypt denies that the terrorists came in from its territory (probably implying some supernatural transportation phenomenon).

The driver of that first bus insists that he has seen two Egyptian soldiers shooting at his bus from the border. Both IDF and Egyptian army deny. Could be the terrorists used Egyptian uniform - nothing new under the sun.

Update 16:20: Two kids aged 4 and 6 between the victims. Not confirmed officially yet.

According to "defense sources" the current estimates are that the attacks were perpetrated by a group of up to 20 terrorists that used tunnels between Gaza and Egypt and then crossed the Israel border. Hamas may not have been involved, the chief suspect is currently the so called World Jihad faction, affiliated with Al Qaeda (for what worth this affiliation may be).

Update 16:30: The number of victims is seven now. Two women among them No confirmation about two kids. Searches by IDF and police in the area continue.

Update 18:00: Egyptian army reports on killing two terrorists. Unconfirmed by IDF.
The number of Israeli victims is back to six. The seventh body possibly a dead terrorist.

Update 18:30: No updates so far, on the radio the usual talking heads are busy with the issue of the Egypt/Israel border fence. As usual, everyone is blaming everyone else in the delays.

Update 18:45: Interview with Ehud Barack and an IDF commander (Gen. Tal Russo). Apparently the number of Israelis killed is 7: 6 citizens and one soldier.

The picture of terrorists participating in the events: three, armed by rifles, explosive belts and explosive charges (or grenades) shot at the buses. Later one of them blew self up, the other two were killed by IDF. Two additional terrorists sniped from the border, later were shot by IDF. Another two shot by Egyptians, so it's confirmed.

Barack mentioned the Gazan so called "Popular Resistance Committees (PRC)". While Barack gave his overview, new reports of new shooting in the area come in.

Meanwhile, reports from Gaza on IDF attack are coming in too. Part of them mention jets, part of them UAVs, but apparently a house in Rafiach (Rafah) - the city on the Gazan Egyptian border, center of weapon and goods smuggling from Sinai - blew up. Apparently, a commander in PRC was killed.

Update 19:05: There was a new firefight on the border indeed. One IDF soldier wounded, his condition defined as serious. Unclear who initiated the firefight and why. The firefight still goes on.

CoS confirmed the attack on Rafah. Two senior figures of PRC were killed

Update 20:25: The two operational Iron Dome systems are being relocated to cope with expected rocket attacks from Gaza. A stormy night is expected.

15 comments:

Alex Benskly said...

Golly, I hope the Israelis don't retaliate because that would be breaking the cease-fire and would only contribute to "the cycle of violence that besets this war-torn land."

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Oh, sure, I know what you mean.

Dick Stanley said...

Thanks for the live-blogging. Much better than the media summaries so far available. Glad to see the IAF's quick response. Be interesting to see what, if any, involvement the Egyptians have in the attacks.

Katie said...

This is only going to get worse.  Imagine what will happen when the UN votes in favor of the Arabs.

My prayers are with the families of the dead and wounded.

Noga said...

The professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus and visiting professor at UC, Berkeley, who teaches young American students, celebrates the recent terrorist attacks in Israel and reports:

<span>" So there was an attack on Israeli military target today</span>."

Like his friend, Samir Quntar. who crushed 4 year old
<span>Einat's head with the butt of his rifle against a rock, </span><span>because she was a soldier.</span>

SnoopyTheGoon said...

You are welcome. There will be new development on Gazan front, I expect.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Let's hope that this indepence farce will pass over quietly, at least as far as security is concerned.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Why doesn't he join his PRC friends in Gaza? Put his worthless carcass where his mouth is.

Dick Stanley said...

Moral preening only works from a distance.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Oh yes.

Pisa said...

I browsed the foreign press for headlines on the terror attack.

BBC: Israel pounds Gaza after attack
CNN: Israeli airstrike in Gaza kills six after attacks in Israel
Romanian Agerpress: totally depressing , something about 6 palestinians killed in Gaza and no background to speak of.
Fox News: Israel attack by 'terror squad' (with video)

Now I know why leftists don't like Fox News. If only they shifted toward that palestinian angle just a little bit more...

David All said...

Thanks Snoopy for all the latest info and updates. My prayers are also with the dead and wounded and their families. Also with all the Israeli people to keep them all safe tonight and the days and nights to come.

David All said...

Thanks Noga for linking to that idiot's comment. I agree with Snoopy and Dick that worthless piece of execrement should join his buddies in Gaza, but his type never does. They are content to cheer their supposed friends on from a very long and safe distance.

Pisa, CBS News has it pretty good, "Attacks target Israelis near Egypt; 7 dead" at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/18/501364/main20093948.shtml?tag=stack

And yea you are right, BBC and CNN are true to form.  

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Right.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Thanks, David. The night is already over, it was noisy as expected.